A central Illinois non-profit is spending this month and next laying the foundation for its upcoming strategic planning process.

Alison Rumler-Gomez is the Executive Director of Community Action and is a strong advocate for yearly strategic planning. To prepare for that process in the late summer of each year, the agency lays the groundwork by meeting with local leaders in all sectors in their respective communities.

According to Rumler-Gomez, getting their communities back to work will likely be a big focus in this upcoming strategic planning process. She believes getting society back to work will be a multi-year process.

Rumler-Gomez also believes there is going to have to be a mindset shift for a lot of people who either have been working from home or not working at all. She explains while the opportunities for working from home will likely be expanded, it simply will not be a universal option that many are going to have to come to grips with.

Rumler-Gomez says people get self-worth when they are working and there is a bigger connection to their community. Additionally, she points out the mental and emotional issues that stem from people not working and being isolated, however, she recognizes there is a hesitancy to get back to work and Community Action hopes to help bridge that gap.